Written by Leonard Wamalwa 2012-07-07 16:26:00 Read 961 Times

Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa addressing mourners at the funeral of his cousin Catherine Simiyu at Rafiki Farm as his cabinet counterpart Dr Noah Wekesa looks on. The two pledged to unite the Luhya community [PHOTO | LEONARD WAMALWA]

Two cabinet ministers and one Member of Parliament from the Western region have pledged to bring together leaders from the entire region especially from their own Luhya community for the sake of their unity and the country’s unity.

Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs Minister Eugene Wamalwa, Wildlife and Forestry Minister Dr Noah Wekesa and Lugari Mp Cyrus Kirongo told mourners at the funeral of Catherine Simiyu a cousin of minister Wamalwa in Rafiki Farm of Trans Nzoia West District that they are doing all that it takes to ensure leaders across the region are united and work as a team.

Wamalwa and Jirongo vowed to continue working together as a team and shall in the long run announce the official party they shall seek election from.

“We have a plan as your leaders to work together and we are no longer going to accept to be divided anymore and we have had talks with other leaders including Wetangula, Bifwoli Wakoli and even Kombo and have told me to pass to you this message about our intention of coming together,” minister Wamalwa told the mourners.

Dr.  Wekesa said that the unity that they are fostering has been the wish of their people from the community who have been urging them to get united and work as one team in their endeavor to get the leadership of this country.

“I myself and Eugene and people like Cyrus Jirongo we are fully committed to take the opportunity to bring others together and we shall not tire to do that responsibility,” said Wekesa.

Jirongo said their unity is not because they are from the community of Luhya’s to seek leadership of the country but it is because they feel time for restoring fairness has eventually come.

“We have decided me and Eugene to work together and we shall announce to you later who will take which position and the party that we shall be vying on. We shall talk with legislators Okemo, Oparanya and Wekesa among others to be in one party because there is no need for us to be always divided whenever elections come,” said Jirongo.

Wamalwa called for the same peace and unity among the residents of this country to be enhanced at the grass root level so that the efforts the leaders are doing to be also be embraced among their followers.

At the same time the Justice Minister appealed for a peaceful electioneering and transition period as the country goes into the next general elections.

“And we are saying that clashes we witnessed in the 2007 elections should not be witnessed again in the next general elections and we do not want any more bloodshed in this country but instead want a peaceful elections and transition period,” said Wamalwa.

He further appealed to people to shun divisive politics and politics of hatred among the leaders and to ensure coexistence across the country and in specific counties.

The issue of insecurity across the country was also raised by Jirongo who wanted the government to show full commitment in ensuring security to Kenyans especially this period towards the general elections which he termed the most dangerous in the history of the country.

Lugari Mp Cyrus Jirongo and Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa.

The Lugari MP further pointed out that he had fear that he had doubts if the insecurity that is rocking the country is not related to the forthcoming elections and noted that in such periods is when some of the leaders lose their lives and thus the government should take the matter with a lot of seriousness.

“I want to ask the government, this is a dangerous period normally in the history of this country and the lapse in security in the country is worrying and none of us wants to believe that all over a sudden cannot provide security in the country. The lapse in security what is the intention?,” Jirongo posed the challenge to the government.

However, ministers Wamalwa and Wekesa were quick to defend the government on the matter and insisted that the government was doing all it can to restore peace in the country citing the fight against the Alshabaab and the ongoing grenade attacks that are witnessed in different parts of the country.

Earlier on in the morning, Wamalwa and Jirongo had met over 70 councilors from Trans Nzoia and Bungoma counties in the minister's home in Milimani Kitale in their ongoing consultations and efforts to have the community and leaders in the region united.

Wamalwa had said that he had invited the civic leaders in his home to get their views before making any move of making a coalition or alliance with other likeminded leaders from the region and the country at large.

He revealed the ongoing talks between the other leaders in the region but pointed out that he and Jirongo and others will only reach a decision after they have done full consultations and brought the prospective leaders to the supporters at the grass roots for their endorsement before going out to work together in rallies as they seek for support from other parts of the country.

But the civic leaders cautioned the two leaders to be wary of the leaders who have the intention of joining their party at this hour so that they do not come to hijack the party for their own benefits as the hardliners are left out in the long run.

They asked them to be more vigilant and keen on the intentions of some of the leaders who have shown interest in joining their team among them Minister Noah Wekesa and others.

The meeting was also attended by the permanent secretary in the ministry of livestock development Kenneth Lusaka who is also aspiring for the seat of governor in Bungoma County among other aspiring leaders in the two counties for various elective seats.

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